Mini Impatiens plant named ‘Fify Litesal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Mini  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fify Litesal’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and dark pink-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Impatiens wallerianacultivar Fify Litesal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of MiniImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fify Litesal’.

The new Mini Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Andijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new compact Mini Impatiens cultivarswith small flowers, freely branching and flowering habit, and attractiveflower and foliage coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2000, of a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selectionidentified as code number IW-778-1, not patented, as the female, or seedparent, with a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified ascode number MRO-1-36, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. Thecultivar Fify Litesal was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Andijk, The Netherlands in January, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken inAndijk, The Netherlands since January, 2001, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fify Litesal’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Fify Litesal’ as a new and distinct MiniImpatiens cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Dark pink-colored flowers that are positioned above and        beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are larger than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of theImpatiens walleriana cultivar Fify Salmon Two, disclosed in U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 10/818,374, in flower color.

The new Impatiens can be compared to the Impatiens walleriana cultivarFify Salmon, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,559. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the newImpatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Fify Salmon in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Fify Salmon.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Fify Salmon.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were lighter in color        than flowers of plants of the cultivar Fify Salmon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which acurately describe the colors ofthe new Impatiens.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a flowering plant of ‘Fify Litesal’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Fify Litesal’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Fify Litesal have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in afiberglass-covered greenhouse during the late spring with daytemperatures about 27 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C.and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Rooted young plants wereplanted in containers and had been growing for about five months whenthe photographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Fify    Litesal.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection            identified as code number IW-778-1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection            identified as code number MRO-1-36, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 21 days at 22 to 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 28 days at 16 to            24° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading            and mounded plant habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous and            freely-branching growth habit with about 15 basal branches;            lateral branches potentially forming at every node; dense            and bushy growth habit. Pinching enhances branching.        -   Plant height.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 6 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 146B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 3.3 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Slightly crenate with minute            ciliation. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and            fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and            fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper            and lower surfaces: 147B. Petiole: Length: About 2.1 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Numerous small single flowers.            Flowers arise from leaf axils. Freely flowering, usually            about 32 flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers            positioned above the foliage and typically face upright or            outward. Flowers last about five to seven days on the plant            under greenhouse conditions. Flowers persistent. Flowers not            fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through            the spring and summer.        -   Flower size.—Height: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2.8 cm.            Depth: About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 52D.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single            whorl. Length, banner petal: About 1.2 cm. Length, lateral            petals: About 1.5 cm. Length, basal petals: About 1.7 cm.            Width, banner petal: About 1.6 cm. Width, lateral petals:            About 1 cm. Width, basal petals: About 1.1 cm. Shape:            Obovate to cordate. Apex: Rounded or slightly emarginate.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 50A to 50B. When opening, lower surface: 55B. Fully            opened, upper surface: 52B; towards the base, 50A; spots            near base, 56A. Color becoming closer to 52D with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: 55B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; one            modified into an elongated spur. Calyx length: About 5 mm.            Calyx diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.            Spur length: About 2.8 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2            mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur color: 36A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused around            stigma. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: 52A. Pollen            amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma            color: 67B. Style color: 146A. Ovary color: 146A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Mini Impatiens plant named ‘FifyLitesal’, as illustrated and described.